Older fridge not cooling
So this is the second season with our 'gently used' camper. It's a 2004 Springdale 26' bunk. Every time we go to use it for a weekend/week or two, the fridge acts up. It's a Dometic RM2652, and I ...
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Meh. I guess I am a cheap bastard. Two RVs straight had isses with the refrigerators. The first was a double-door Dometic that the cooling pack would cost $850 + freight, the second was a small refrigerator; some Swiss brand from 1979 that I couldn't find anything for (equivalent sized replacements were about $1300 from both Dometic and Norcold). In both cases, I replaced them with household refrigerators. The double door fridge was replaced with a 10 cu-ft model I got used for $140, and the little one was replaced by a Frigidaire dorm fridge that draws 110w max on 115v I picked up at Lowes for $160.
I figure that the average RV fridge lasts 7-8 years before failure. If the household fridges fail every 2 years, I'll still be money ahead, since $160 * 4 = $640, vs $1300 for a new unit. Heck, at this price point, I can replace the refrigerator very year and still be a little ahead.
As for the wiring? There is already a 110v outlet behind the fridges, and I just had to make sure that it was on the inverter's circuit to cool when driving or boondocking. I use them about the same as an RV fridge... I bring the unit to the house from storage and turn the fridge on with the A/C to cool the interior and the fridge. 24 hours later, I begin filling it with items from the refrigerator in our kitchen, and the next morning, we're pulling out, with the inverter powering the fridge as we roll down the road.
I figure that the average RV fridge lasts 7-8 years before failure. If the household fridges fail every 2 years, I'll still be money ahead, since $160 * 4 = $640, vs $1300 for a new unit. Heck, at this price point, I can replace the refrigerator very year and still be a little ahead.
As for the wiring? There is already a 110v outlet behind the fridges, and I just had to make sure that it was on the inverter's circuit to cool when driving or boondocking. I use them about the same as an RV fridge... I bring the unit to the house from storage and turn the fridge on with the A/C to cool the interior and the fridge. 24 hours later, I begin filling it with items from the refrigerator in our kitchen, and the next morning, we're pulling out, with the inverter powering the fridge as we roll down the road.
